6/9/2015

From the moment I walked into Owen & Engine, I knew i was in for a treat.  A couple of patrons were walking out as my party and I were walking in.  They  had a smile on their face and greeted us with a warm hello.  I thought to myself, "well, someone just had a great time".    My party and I walked up to the bar, where again, we were greeted with a genuine, warm greeting by the bartender.  

All three of us asked for beer suggestions.  The bartender gave us brilliant recommendations.  I had a delightful stout that was just delicious.  We didn't eat a main, but did have spicy peanuts that were sweet but with a definite and much enjoyed kick.

The staff are (with good reason) very proud of this pub and wanted to show us the upstairs before we left.  I'm so glad they did.  I really felt I was back in London.  The attention to detail from the wallpaper to the books on the shelf is meticulously thoughtful.   Both floors have the atmosphere of a beautifully maintained British pub.

I cannot wait to bring some different friends to this place again.

7/24/2015

Everybody in the party was punctual to our 8:30pm Saturday reservation with the exception to O&E. We had to inconveniently wait in the bar area until our table was ready at 9:30pm.

It was an unusually late hour for dinner so most of us were starving. We immediately attacked the menu and fired away with our appetizers and entrees upon seating.  But little did we know,  it would take them another 45 minutes to deliver the items.

To start off,  we had the cheese board and cornish pasty. One of each was divided among nine of us. Not exactly an easy and satisfying effort,  but it gave everybody a bite.  I highly recommend the pasty as I think it's one of the best in town. Within the warm, flakey and crusty shell held an abundant amount of shredded pork.  Pair each bite with the piccalili, chutnry, and arugula, and you'll have yourself a delicacy.

As for entrees,  I had a try of the wild boar chop and haddock fish and chips.  The chop is an ugly duckling by picture, but taste-wise is well worth your attention. It's finished in a mango soy glaze and accompanied with stir-fried farro, charred carrots, and crispy duck egg.  I would advise you to break the egg and let the yolk run across the plate.  Sounds like a mess but it certainly gave the dish an extra level of goodness. There was only one slab of chop on the plate and the meat was slightly tough.

The fish and chips came with two dipping sauces,  malt vinegar mayonnaise and sauce gribiche. The latter is a mayonnaise-style cold egg sauce which I really enjoyed.  The fish was well fried in beer batter and the meat was fresh, soft,  and smooth. The fries were thin cut and standard.

Also,  our server was quite a charmer. He knew we were celebrating our friend's big 30, so he kindly and generously gave the birthday boy a dessert on the house. The cookies and milk were selected.  Do not be deceived by its simple name. The chocolate cookies were freshly baked and intensely rich. If I wasn't full from dinner, I would've happily gorged one piece. The milk should not be forgotten.  With sea salt,  cinnamon, chocolate, and drambuie, this was not your typical breakfast drink.

All in all, food and service excellent. But, with the lengthy delay in dinner, the plans for the rest of the evening were thrown off track. If you are coming into dinner without other obligations, then O&E would be the good, extensive affair to have. Otherwise, plan accordingly and leave yourself with a four hour window to be safe.

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  Cheese board

  Cheese board
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  Wild boar chop

  Wild boar chop
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  Scotch egg and haddock fish and chips

  Scotch egg and haddock fish and chips
• See all photos from Jessica M. for Owen & Engine

7/23/2015

I'm really torn between 3 and 4 stars for O&E. It's not the city's best burger IMO. The parking in the area is pretty awful and it's not very big so without a reservation be prepared to wait. There are a few first come first served places though.

They have a sizeable beer and drink list and in Brit style they have some Pimm's options too. The menu isn't that big, but not too small but you will find that several items change frequently, but the burger will always be there. The burger is definitely big and juicy, but I find it a bit too salty. I had the pasty once and it was kinda blah.

Last weekend, I got the boar chop that was fantastic. Very yummy! Even though it was a Sunday it was still jammed pack in the afternoon. There is a small patio upstairs with a few tables. I like O&E, but with the location and the crowd it's sometimes a bit more work than I would like.

7/8/2015

Some discerning folks recommended this place as a candidate for the best burger in Chicago.  They obviously take great pride in their work here, and my burger was perfectly tasty, but "best burger in Chicago" is a tough category, and this place just doesn't make the cut.  It's not even in the top five.  Not that there is anything wrong with the meat, carmelized onion, homemade roll combination, but there's simply a whole echelon of texture, salt, and acid that this burger failed to achieve.  (French fries with malt vinegar aioli were also fine, but again not superlative; the aioli wasn't that malty, and the fries were good but ordinary.)

It's got a nice vibe, and this stretch of Western desperately needs a nice place to eat, so I'm glad that Owen & Engine exists and I might come back the next time I see a movie next door.  (Service was friendly and helpful but extraordinarily slow.)  But for a burger pilgrimage, you can do better.

5/25/2015

I'm 'bout this life. Drinking beer with insanely rich food at 11am on a Saturday? Yep, I'm 'bout that.

I went to Owen & Engine at long last and the first thing i noticed was how much I loved their draft list. The first step to winning Sarah over is feeding her some good liquid so Owen & Engine was well on their way. Our waitress was very nice, not overly invasive and when I ordered my meal she told me the dish was delish so that peaked my interest.

She was totally right. I had the Seasonal Mushroom on Focaccia with mornay, 5 hour egg, fried pickled mushrooms (plus tons of other mushrooms), truffle oil for 14 bucks...or as the Brits would say quid. This was just loaded with fungi goodness and was a pretty large dish. I was able to save half to have for dinner that night (thank you pints o beer for filling my tummy).

Best scotch egg ever. Done perfectly. Tasted perfect. I could eat 999,999 of them.

I found the prices to be high but not overly offensive.

I need to try their brunch now! And more beers. Yesssss.

• 

  Seasonal Mushroom on Focaccia with mornay, 5 hour egg, fried pickled mushrooms (plus tons of other mushrooms), truffle oil $14

  Seasonal Mushroom on Focaccia with mornay, 5 hour egg, fried pickled mushrooms (plus tons of other mushrooms), truffle oil $14
• 

  Great beer selection on tap.

  Great beer selection on tap.
• 

  This, my friends, is a perfect Scotch egg.

  This, my friends, is a perfect Scotch egg.
• See all photos from Sarah S. for Owen & Engine

4/8/2015

I'm a fan of Owen and Engine! The bite of a burger I stole from my friend was GREAT, the beef hash I ordered for myself was good (I wished I'd ordered a burger, they're fantastic), the bloody mary was yummy. We reserved one of the bigger tables for a birthday lunch on a Saturday. It was a great time, a very unpretentious, down-to-earth place to grab some food and drinks. Our server was a stand-up comedian who talked about performing for the Chicago comedy scene.

It's the kind of place you could walk in with flannels and jeans if you wanted, cocktail attire if you wanted, people don't really mind either way.

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  Yasha's birthday at Owen and Engine

  Yasha's birthday at Owen and Engine

5/20/2015

I planned a small reunion for a group of eight people at Owen and Engine (we all studied abroad in London at the same time in college). I chose this gastropub because it's British and well-reviewed. Yelp definitely didn't lead us astray on this one!

They were very understanding and accommodating considering our whole group didn't arrive at the same time. We were seated as we arrived and we ordered drinks as we decided on what to get. They brought out the wrong drink for my boyfriend, but let him keep it for free, so I enjoyed sipping on that throughout the meal (it was a dark stout). I hadn't eaten for a while so I was hungry! I usually don't order starters, but this time I decided to go for the warm pretzel with Welsh rarebit. It was so good! I honesty would return to O&E for the pretzel alone. The serving size was pretty big, so I had no problem sharing with friends.

For my entree, I enjoyed the paneer. It was light and I enjoyed it, but I thought it was a bit lacking in flavor. I definitely enjoyed that this option was on the menu because there's so much great indian food in London! I would definitely return and I wholly recommend this place; I just may have not ordered the right thing (I was envious of my friend's fish and chips).

6/4/2015

There are not too many places I have gone where A.Was a no brainer for a 5 star review and B. I have wanted to try EVERYTHING on the menu.

Beer list is great-mix of local/nonlocal brews

Food: Organized on menu from small plates to large which is helpful when ordering. We tried the softshell crab, bangers and mash, and fish and chips. Wish I could have had the room for 10 more dishes. All three were excellent. The softshell crab was perfectly done and the potato salad and vegetable garnishes were excellent.

I would/am going to to come back here very soon and if you can sit on the patio upstairs, its a nice/small seating area that will maximize the whole experience.

12/17/2014

Owen & Engine basically had me at hello.  

We opted for this spot as it was on the way to our concert venue (United Center) and had really good reviews on Yelp.  I am SO happy we stopped.  From the moment we entered, I whispered to the hubs - "I think they've gotten the pub thing right"...and they totally did not disappoint.

We were seated upstairs near a large fireplace and really cool massive wood bar.  The vibe in this place is really hard to describe, but it was so chill that I wanted to stay and sit on the couch by the fireplace for a long, long time.  Anyway ...

The food.  OMG, the food.  

We started with the Mustard Glazed Pretzel...delish.  Never mind that it came with a side of beer cheese that I wanted to pick up and just drink.  

For dinner we opted for the Fish & Chips and a burger with chips (fries).  A burger?  At an English Pub?  YES.  An amazing burger.  Cooked to perfection and SO good.  Fish had the perfect batter and the fries were not greasy at all.  Happy tummies all around.

Our server was super cool and tolerant of us and our food stories and my husband's stories about living in England twice...blah blah blah.  Bless him.  He also had THE PERFECT beer suggestions for us.  Seriously on point.

We will return to try the chicken next time as I hear it is where it's at.  If it is anything like our meal we had at this visit, I can't wait.

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  Upstairs bar.

  Upstairs bar.
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  Upstairs seating. Cozy!

  Upstairs seating. Cozy!

1/21/2015

Wow - brunch is a must at this British-inspired gastropub where eager eaters will find everything from Indian curry to corned beef hash. There are a number of small plates to choose from, as well, such as cinnamon rolls and crumpets, as well as your traditional Scotch egg, etc.

A lovely and strong selection of beers are on tap, including real English ales and stouts. If you're more of a bloody slash mimosa person, those are avail as well.

The decor was warm and inviting - plus there's an upstairs! I'd have given them 5 stars but service was a little slow. Pleasant, but slow, and very hard to hear our server. However, I wouldn't let that deter a visit back to this gem.

• 

  Richie porter.

  Richie porter.

6/4/2015

Ranked #5 best burger in Chicago on Thrillist! Came here on a Tuesday for the $16 Burger Beer  Bourbon. Wish they let you choose the beer, instead they gave us the not so great Oskar Blues Mamas Yella pils, maybe because no one drinks it. The bourbon was good, and perfect to set you in the mood for a savory burger! I got the burger done medium with aged cheddar. WOW. The potato bun was soft, Cheese was delicious savory and rich. The burger cooked perfectly melted in my mouth. This is one of those burgers you don't need ketchup or mustard or dressings, its plainly good meat on a bun. The fries were disappointing, pretty standard, could use some flavored seasoning. Love this spot its got a nice look. Easily in the TOP 3 BURGERS  I ever had.

• 

  Menu

  Menu
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  Must try burger!!

  Must try burger!!
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  Bourbon n beer

  Bourbon n beer
• See all photos from AJ M. for Owen & Engine

6/10/2015

This place was my jam. Hailing from England it was tough to find somewhere that at least had a respectable homage to home. Owen and Engine had that, and I embraced it with every order of Yorkshire Pudding, Bangers & Mash, Bubble & Squeak.

Unfortunately, the past two times I've been there (months apart as the initial bad experience left me really bummed out) there just hasn't been the same level of service as there once was. I don't know if there's new owners, a new chef, or something that could hint as to why things changed but sadly, they have.

The yorkshire puddings are poorly/underdone at the best of times, the fries were undercooked and soggy and the onions for the burger are no longer consistently done (this time they seemed way under) and the service seems to have lost its charm. The first time I had a poor experience I did my best to be courteous and polite and complain (the food arrived cold). Sadly all they did was reheat my food as opposed to giving me a fresh, hot order.

Who knows, maybe I had 2 very unlucky days. I'm sad that I can no longer recommend this place as my favourite place to go. I hope I can find another charming British-style pub to feel at home with again. I just feel like Owen & Engine lost their focus when they included a Banh-Mi sandwich on a British menu.

3/25/2015

We went for a late dinner on a weeknight.  Tried the Scotch egg, Kale Salad, Cornish Pasty, selection of cheeses, and something else that must not be on the menu anymore because nothing else looks familiar.  It was all wonderful - I recommend it highly and without reserve, and we will be back to order more little plates to split and nibble.  

It's a FANTASTIC space - dark  with a beautiful bar, and I'd love to spend hours here just sorta letting the world pass me by.  I'd also like to try the tea service, which I really have to remember to write down.  I don't see if online, but if I recall, it was full tea service with scones and cream.

8/31/2014

This place is amazing! Have gone there multiple times and have had a great experience every time. The service is great and the staff is friendly. Alex (our waiter) made great suggestions as far as the food.

Last time I was there I tried the Slagel Farm burger (local grass fed beef) and just added bacon to it... it was phenomenal!! One of the best burgers I've had in Chicago (top 5 place). Have also tried the pork rinds,  empanadas and both were great. The pork rinds were spicy so just be careful. The beer selection is also great and is always changing... def worth a try.

While you're there make sure you check out their outdoor patio... very cozy place! I highly recommend it and will likely be back soon!

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  Slagel burger! Just plain awesome...

  Slagel burger! Just plain awesome...
• 

  Nice outdoor patio!!

  Nice outdoor patio!!

3/6/2015

Owen and Engine always seems to have the capability to keep me coming back for more. I have come here times before to have beer, burger, and bourbon on Tuesday nights and they never disappoint, especially for the price! Tonight, a Friday night, was exceptional. The bar tender, Elliot, started our night off with excellent drink recommendations and friendly service. Both bartenders were very knowledgable of both drink and dinner menus.

We started with appetizers including pickles and the pretzel. Pickles were flavorful and each vegetable had their own unique taste. The soft pretzel was a great texture and taste, but the cheese sauce really stole the show. I could eat the sauce straight.

For my entree, I ordered bangers and mash. The dish as a whole was hearty and the flavors of all components blended together perfectly.

Overall, the food and service were both on point, but expect a wait. My meal was great and I would recommend Owen and Engine to anyone!

6/29/2015

Great service. Good food. A wonderful brunch spot.

I ventured over to Owen & Engine yesterday for Sunday brunch and found a quaint, old English styled restaurant. They got the details down (all the way to the English china).

I got the crispy kale salad. It was lovely - fresh, flavorful, and not oily. It was a good healthy choice. Other dishes we ordered were the steak and eggs and the traditional English breakfast. They were also tasty. One minor issue for us was that the steak was cooked too well-done when we asked for medium rare.

Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He came back several times to ask how everything was and introduced us to a few beers with small tastings, which my friend greatly appreciated.

1/19/2015

I'm finally getting around to reviewing Owen & Engine. Why the hold up? Because I didn't love the burger and I wasn't sure what to think about that. I have always heard O&E has one of the best. And I was unimpressed. It was fine just not in my top 10. However, don't let my opinion stand in your way. Give it a shot, particularly on a Tuesday when they have it on special.

That said, I loved this place. Just the ambiance alone would draw me back. I love a British pub. This would almost be like the real thing except its much cleaner than any British pub I've been to in England. A differentiation from the original that I think we can all appreciate. We sat upstairs which is a charming room with a bar, couches, TV, small tables. Sitting at the couches and having some pints with friends looked really appealing.

I'm going to be redundant for a moment and repeat what everyone else has already said. Get the Scotch Egg. So delicious and not to be missed. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked.

I would definitely head back to O&E. The menu looked great. Or maybe I'll just dig into a Scotch Egg and call it a day.

2/8/2015

Wow... had a great experience today for brunch.  Everything was top notch.  The greeting at the door was warm and pleasant.  The server was quick to say hello and let us settle in.

  Started off with scones and a Scottish egg.  Umm yeah.  Some of the best scones I have ever had.  Im not even a scotch egg fan, but this one was really tasty.  Moved on to the Eggs Benedict and steel cut oatmeal risotto.  Holy fantastic.  Who doesn't love a proper crumpet with their eggs?  Both entrees were crazy delicious.  Did I mention the streaky bacon was SUPER good.  

  Service was very attentive without being smothering and always with a smile.  I will definitely head back to try this place again and explore more of the menu.

3/8/2015

I am a sucker for lists- and one of the best burgers anywhere is supposed to be at Owen and Engine. I would say it was good-  what makes it worthy I suppose was it's size- which was decent,cooked as ordered, nice toasted bun,  it came with an Aioli sauce which was different, but not much more tasty than Mayonnaise ..a little better I suppose. The fries that came with it were perfect- the price was 15 bucks, before you add on cheese, bacon or a fried egg topping.  So, this burger can easily be 20 bucks.

On a Saturday night, at 6:30- the wait for a table was 45 minutes to an hour- the bar area, was cramped and it was really hot in the space-  Staff was very friendly, and did the best they could with the crowds.  I was surprised that the host and hostess even remembered my name and where to find me when my table was ready, and it was exactly a 45 minute wait.  The waitress (Beth) did a super job.

Nice beer selection at the bar, some of it priced low- some high.

6/3/2015

The food is always very good here and we always get sat very fast. I decided on the burger. The flavors were awesome and it was cooked perfectly. In all it was a nice experience and we will be back.

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  Burger with a fried egg, chips and housemade aoil for diping.

  Burger with a fried egg, chips and housemade aoil for diping.

5/29/2014

Since I've just written up one five-star ampersand restaurant--Longman & Eagle, natch--why not double down? Here it goes, with Owen & Engine.

I'd been told that title rights to the best burger in Chicago belonged to Owen & Engine. After a detailed fact-finding expedition, I'm ready to award my belt. It goes not to the fine folks at O&E, but instead to the divine burger produced by Au Cheval.

That said, Owen & Engine takes home the silver thus far, and not insignificant award considering my burger standards. One, I love me the thin patty. If I want a hunk of beef, I'll grab a steak. My personal opinion: thick patties sacrifice flavor for juiciness, and walk a fine line at producing said juiciness at that. Owen & Engine's pub burger goes thick.

It's a fine thick burger, though, and I like it above the legend that is Kuma's. There's more juice and more flavor at O&E. Sure, Kuma's gives you virtually unlimited freedom to top, but that's like adding barbeque sauce and baked beans to your simplistic yet perfect brisket. It's about the meat, and O&E does it better.

There's plenty else on the menu other than just a burger, though. Start with the delectable malt vinegar aioli that accompanies the burger's fries or the fish and chips order that the wife picked. There's more British pub and general upscale bar favorites too--see the scotch egg or the locally sourced charcuterie board that Yelp's reviewers have chosen to feature. And no, I didn't try the bone marrow, but a second glance at that uni butter is making my mouth water.

Ah, and the cherry on top: tea time is available, with homemade scones to boot. That's a wife-pleaser for sure. Also, fun fact: a blueberry scone tastes great with bourbon. It's science.

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  Slagel Farm Beef Burger, Caramelised Onion, Fried Egg, House Potato Bap, Chips, Malt Vinegar Aioli

  Slagel Farm Beef Burger, Caramelised Onion, Fried Egg, House Potato Bap, Chips, Malt Vinegar Aioli

7/12/2015

$12 for 5 tortellini. Twelve dollars. The portion size was less than a bowl of cereal.

What.

5/10/2015

Cosy, clean, relaxing and sophisticated affordable British gastropub with excellent bags and mash, fish and chips, service....The size portion of dishes is fair.
It is easy to park around here and conveniently located near a movie theater.

4/20/2015

Agree with previous reviews, best burger in the city.  Just went their this weekend and yet again O&E does not dissapoint.  Hubby got burger it was amazing as usual.

I am compelled to write this because not only is the burger amazing but the rest of their food is just as amazing.  I just love this place.  I had the Shrimp Sausage and Grits... never on my radar but ordered on staff rec... amazing.  

Please, for the love of god, order the cookies and milk dessert... it's a slice of heaven.  I am craving it 24/7 after going there!!

3/3/2015

Went on a Friday night, late. Ordered two dishes my friend and I split, the salt beef sandwich and the Burger. The burger was great, well cooked, kinda medium, just hit the spot, the salt beef sandwich left a lot to be desired, essentially fell short. I wasn't expecting it to be that salty. My friend and I stopped half way and started drinking alot of water. I guess in the name it says salted but still it was wayy to salty for me. Maybe some people like that I really don't know but for us it was too much.

Aside from that it wasn't too busy around 11pm on a Friday night, they are open late so it was helpful. Atmosphere was great, the ambiance was pleasant and lighting was dim, expected for a late night dub/bar/restaurant type feel. Definitely could come again but wouldn't eat that salt beef sandwich again Lol.

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  The Salted Beef Sandwich, TOO salty!!! not my style..m

  The Salted Beef Sandwich, TOO salty!!! not my style..m
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  The Burger!! Delicious

  The Burger!! Delicious

11/21/2014

One of the few place that I have been to that actually lives up to the hype. I don't personally think you should wait over an hour to eat here, but if you can grab a spot at the bar, it is so worth it. The food is amazing! I came here with my boyfriend and we ordered the mussels, bread pudding, and steak. We finished the meal off with the banoffee tart. Everything we ordered, we ended up splitting, which I think, in the long run, saved us a lot of money. We also were able to try more things by splitting everything, which is a plus. At first we didn't think this was going to be enough food, but it was actually really filling. The steak was to die for and I absolutely loved the muscles. The bread pudding was good, but I generally prefer sweet bread pudding. The banoffee tart was also really good, but a little bit hard to break into.

Overall, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed eating here and if I were back in the area again (and the wait wasn't that long), I'd for sure come again!

4/8/2015

Very inviting restaurant. Great food. I had their burger, it was very good.

Fireplace upstairs was on but looked like a nice place to relax.

Not a cute area to walk around in but perfect for a dinner and movie (since o&e is next to a movie theatre)

4/3/2015

I love Owen & Engine. I love their food, their staff, and the atmosphere. If I had to guess, I've been here roughly 30 times.
Their burgers taste like steak to me and I eat them at least twice a month. They're my favorite in the city. I recently came in for brunch and their biscuits with hunter's gravy were delicious. I love their ribeye and Yorkshire pudding. I could go on about their food but I'm sure you've all eaten french fries and aioli before.
They always have excellent beers on tap.
Very non-pretentious, exceptional restaurant in my opinion.

4/8/2015

Holy Beer List Batman!

There's a lot of good things to say about Owen and Engine, but I have to start with the beer.  Just about every gastropub and restaurant these days is expected to have a quality beer list, but over time you see the same craft beer names again and again.  And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but I do like being challenged by a beer menu to try something new and fresh, and Owen and Engine continually changes up their menu to offer a lot of new and exciting beers that I haven't tried before.  Also, if you're a fan of Pipeworks, chances are good that they'll have one or two good Pipeworks beers on the menu.

Ok, enough about my alcoholism.  Onto the food.  I've had some great meals over here.  The only thing preventing me from five stars here is I'm not always sure that the portions and the quality is equal to the price.  You can spend a pretty penny ordering at Owen and Engine and have had some comically small orders at some hefty prices.   That being said, their pretzel with welsh rarebit is probably the best you'll find anywhere, is priced very well and gets my mouth watering just thinking about it.

On top of that, they make a delicious and flavorful bangers and mash, which is an excellent choice and have a memorable cheeseburger as well which is even better when ordered on a Tuesday.  On Tuesdays you can get a great burger, a beer and a shot for $16.  

The staff has always been great whenever, I've gone and the ambiance is hard to match.  The long bar is great to sit at and the overall atmosphere is cozy and warm.  As its a popular destination, you might find it difficult to grab a seat on busy nights and times, but the wait isn't typically unreasonable.  

Happy to live so close so that we can go here as often as we do.  Keep up the good work guys!

9/23/2014

This review is for O&E on their BBB Tuesday nite.  BBB (burger, beer, and a shot of bourbon) is now $16 pp as price was upped by a  $1 recently for first time in 3 years apparently.  It was still a 5 star deal for us, as both the wife and I had their special.   At the core I'm basically a burger and beer guy, and I couldn't have asked for a more delectable meal on this nite.  The beer for the BBB special tonight was a Bob's 47 lager (5.2% ABV and 18 oz serving) from Boulevard Brewing in KC.  At first, I was somewhat disappointed it was a lager (not generally my favorite type of beer), but upon seeing and tasting it, it had good color and a richer taste than a standard lager, and I'm now a fan!  The bourbon was a Zachariah Harris brand -  again I've not heard of it before, but it was smooth and I'll be glad to have more of it anytime!  The burger was great - it had distinctively great flavor, it was thick and maybe totaled 1/2 lb I would estimate, and it was still very juicy while being done medium.  Just having carmelized onions on the burger was perfect  as far as I was concerned.   Many reviews have already reported on the upscale burger blend recipe and the taste is positively distinctive.  On BBB nite, this is a 5 star deal.  At regular price of $14 for the burger and fries, it would be on the slightly pricey side I would say, but you're then paying for other things like the extensive beer list here and the ambiance.  

On the dining and ambiance - yes,it's a small space even with two floors (see photos), and I'm glad we had a reservation. No long lines and people mulling about like at Kumas Corner, but I was told every table at the time (5:30pm) was on reservations.  I don't have a feel on what a walk up wait might be like here.  Free street parking can be found on Diversey and also the side street (Schubert Ave) that the Regal theatre and Fat Willy's are also located on if you're lucky.  On the ambiance, I was curious as to what I would think of the ambiance from reading the past reviews, as I've been to some of London's quintiessential pubs.  Overall, a great place and nice vibe here, but it's actually spacious compared to some of London's quaint places, and lacks the old and natural woodiness of some of the 200 year old places in London.  It's also better lit than many of  London's pubs as they don't have the luxury of as many windows as at O&E.  This isn't a knock - just an observation, and it's nice to be able to compare first hand.  This place is in the ballpark though.   It's sort of analogous to us in the USA not having authentic Spanish tapas bars,  it's hard to do as it's not economic for one for the business.   O&E has been there for 4 years now, and anyway, I plan to be back again.   Kitty was our server.  She was attentive and friendly and answered all of my touristy questions!

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  First floor decor

  First floor decor
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  Burger, medium.

  Burger, medium.
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  Tues nite special - burger, beer, and bourbon for $16, a nice deal. Here, it was a Bob's 47 lager and Zachariah Harris bourbon.

  Tues nite special - burger, beer, and bourbon for $16, a nice deal. Here, it was a Bob's 47 lager and Zachariah Harris bourbon.
• See all photos from Howard L. for Owen & Engine

5/21/2015

I love the layout of this place.  Try to get seated upstairs where it looks like you're dining in someone's home.
The burgers are the best in the city and the Fish and Chips are incredible but a little on the pricey side.  Almost as good as Duke of Perth's Fish and Chips.
Can't wait to try the bone marrow next time I go.

4/8/2015

This little pub has a very authentic British feel, with plenty of beers to choose from, including Cask Ale. Showing up without a reservation we were seated promptly, even with a group of 4. The service was very prompt, and the food was very good. Owen & Engine is primarily known for their burgers, but the clams, sausage, and muscles with Lobster bisque caught my eye. I'm glad it did because it was delicious. I would recommend the meal to anyone, and I will be hoping it's still on the menu when I return. Overall I give them 4 stars.

9/27/2014

Items Selected:
Blueberry Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Housemade Crumpets with Nordic Creamery Butter and Blueberry Jam
Scotch Egg with Stout Mustard
Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, and Poppyseed Scones with Clotted Cream and Blueberry Jam
Scottish Pancakes with Burton's Maple Syrup and House Bacon
Steel Cut Oatmeal Risotto, Poached Farm Egg, Pork Confit, Shaved Parmesan, Grilled Brown Bread
Bubble and Squeak
House Baked Brioche French Toast Sandwich with Sunny Egg, Aged Cheddar, Smoked Ham, Maple Syrup, Blueberry Jam, Salad
Full English Fry-Up with Tinned Beans, Fried Egg, Grilled Tomato, House Bacon, Brown Bread, Blood Sausage, Banger

Located in Logan Square and loaded with beards, ink, and irony just moments after opening, Owen + Engine was selected as a 'morning after' celebration for two recently united families largely on location, but also in part due to items far more interesting than the 'typical' American bill of fare.  Described by some as a gastropub, and by many as Chicago's best British food, with a menu featuring items both savory and sweet it was thankfully with reservations and details of the special occasion that we were greeted at the restaurant's doors and swiftly led to a semi-private room amidst the restaurant's rustic confines both service and selections would shine, the unfortunate discontinuation of a coveted 'foie gras cinnamon roll' the meal's lone flaw.  Dining as part of a group of seven, with some still recovering from a wedding reception the night before, it was none-the-less with an eye on diversity that our tasting was crafted and starting out with a quartet of starters a theme of textbook execution was quickly made known - the sones and crumpets both as good as any I had in England while the 'standard' cinnamon roll and runny Scotch egg were delicious as well.  Neglecting to photograph a burger proclaimed as 'very good' by the groom's father but happy to document my own end of the table it was with a few double orders that entrees arrived and with two plates of pancakes plus a full English Fry-Up both impressive in their own right it was the pseudo-risotto and duo of French Toast sandwiches that handily stole the show, the former a creamy bowl of oats melded to crispy pig by egg-yolk while the later featured thick slices of bread griddled after a bath in custard surrounding sharp cheddar and smoky slices of ham, the savory flavors brought into sharp focus with a drizzle of syrup and sidecar of jam.

• 
• 

  Bubble and Squeak

  Bubble and Squeak
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  House Baked Brioche French Toast Sandwich with Sunny Egg, Aged Cheddar, Smoked Ham, Maple Syrup, Blueberry Jam, Salad

  House Baked Brioche French Toast Sandwich with Sunny Egg, Aged Cheddar, Smoked Ham, Maple Syrup, Blueberry Jam, Salad
• See all photos from Michael U. for Owen & Engine

11/9/2014

I would probably give four for the food,but the service was so slow it offset that extra star. Went there for a birthday dinner for a friend. More English pub fare. They have a pretty good Scotch Egg. because the mustard it comes with is a nice dipping sauce. My husband and I were most impressed with the lamb meatballs. They were very flavorful and even managed to split some with a crowded table of 10 people. The burger wasn't bad too. Can't go wrong with a Slagel farm burger. I went out on a limb to try the bone marrow, but it left much to be desired. I would have liked some meat to cut the fat. There were two dips to help with that and I was looking forward to the bacon jam, but it wasn't doing it for me. It was actually the nut butter that reminded me of Thai food that did the trick.

We wished our experience could have been better, but when it took a half hour to get our drink orders or even a steak knife it really did offset our opinion of the food. One of our friends ordered a steak and it didn't even come with a steak knife and then the waiter was MIA for a good portion of time and still didn't come back with one when bringing back refill beers ordered 15 minutes before. Not sure if they just had one wait staff for the second floor, but even though our waiter was nice it just seemed bad management of the floor.

Maybe give it a chance again if I am not in a rush to see a movie. If not just for the lamb meatballs.

6/2/2014

What's not to love about Owen and Engine?? Great food and drinks, decor, service, AND easy parking! (There's a garage across the street connected to the movie theater where you can park for $2 all day; pretty dope if I do say so myself!).  

I've been here twice so far but somehow forgot to write a review the first time.  We made reservations the night before for this past Friday for a group of 7 people and had no problem.  They also were very accommodating since one friend requested that we be seated near a TV so we could also watch the Hawks playoff game.  

One friend and I arrived half an hour early for our reservation and were seated without needing the whole party there which was great.  We were seated on the second floor which is very quaint and the dark wooden decor makes you feel like you're at a fancy grown up dinner at a friend's house (my friends and I aren't that posh just yet).

Our server was very sweet and friendly.  Our table had the fish and chips, burgers, bangers and mash, and pan roasted chicken thigh sandwich.  Everyone was very happy with their choices but I can only attest to the bangers and mash and chicken sandwich.   Bangers and mash is basically pork sausages over mash potatoes and gravy.  Even though this sounds very simple it is still very tasty comfort food!  The chicken thigh sandwich was pretty great; the chicken was topped with vegetable slaw, fresh avocado, rasher (bacon), pickled lime charmoula (marinade) with a side of chips (fries).  The chicken was tender and the veggie-avocado slaw added a refreshing element to the sandwich since it had a nice contrasting, crunchy texture.  We stayed well past dinner just sitting there chatting and our waiter never made us feel rushed or unwelcome, which I greatly appreciated.  

The next time I come I want to take advantage of their Tuesday special: $15 for a burger (the burger alone is $14), a bourbon, and a beer!   Also, Owen and Engine is located right next to Fat Willy's Rib Shack which I've been wanting to try as well..food crawl here I come!

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  Chicken thigh sandwich

  Chicken thigh sandwich

9/20/2014

This place is way, way, way too cool for the northwest corner of 2700 N. Western Ave. Chicago IL.  I mean, someone built an Olde English Pub from scratch and placed it across the street from a Regal Multiplex and next door to Fat Willy's Rib Shack? Who does that?  [Answer:  the owners of Fat Willy's Rib Shack.]

Sitting at the second story bar, I had a perfectly crafted vodka gimlet, followed by a trio of beers on tap, each one better than the other--the names are unknown to me, but one was tart & citrusy, one was smooth, and one was dark and tasted of cherries. Thanks to the bar staff for introducing me to these outstanding brews. This was accompanied by small plates of delicious lamb meatballs and crostini.  The service here is swell.

Since I just barely scratched the surface of the menu, I'm sure I will be back whenever I happen to be in the neighborhood. Maybe some day I will even understand the name.

11/11/2014

A quaint British pub on the edge of Logan Square. Owen & Engine offers flavorful pub foods, friendly service, and a long list of beers. They offer all of the classic English dishes you'd expect, and a few extra dishes as well.

The burger is delish, a solid 4 stars, though maybe not as earth shattering as others make it sound. Fiance fell in love with the lamb gyro, which is sadly no longer on the menu. I absolutely love the malt vinegar aioli that comes with the chips!

The intimate sitting room space upstairs is great for drinks with a small group. Owen & Engine is somewhat of a hidden gem worth the venture to check out!

2/10/2014

After dining at Owen & Engine, I had the same reaction I had after seeing Donnie Darko.  

Really?  That's what the hype was about?

My group showed up with a reservation at 8:30.  We stood around for at least 15 minutes, waiting to be seated.

I tried the vaunted Scotch egg and thought it was just a mediocre appetizer.  Hardly worth $6 per egg.

The flavorless soft pretzel ($6) came with a disastrously greasy dipping sauce.  It looked like snot.

The house-made breads ($6) were okay, but I don't know if I'd order them again.

I did enjoy the pork rinds ($5).  Nice combination of salty and cheesy.

For my entree, I went with the super-hyped burger and thought, I've had better at Kuma's and 25 Degrees.  For $14, it should be tastier and less greasy.  I got their house made ketchup and mustard and wished I had some straight up Heinz.  The ketchup tasted like tomato Kool-Aid.  The bacon on my burger was undercooked and 95% fat.

Cocktails are $10.  I had the Tempest.  It's not listed in their online menu, so I can't report what it contained, but I liked the aftertaste more than the actual taste.

Our server had a knack for butting in while one of us was mid-sentence.  I think we were interrupted every time she swung by.  And our entrees took a very long time to come to the table.

We walked away having paid $50/person after tip.  I'm willing to pay that for a really good meal, but nothing I ate at Owen & Engine merits a return visit.

6/4/2015

I had been wanting to try this place because there is not too many options in the area but unfortunately due to the horrid service I never even got to try the food. The host and wait staff are as smug and arrogant as you can get. After being treated by 3 different employees like it was a privilege for me to be there I simply walked out. I will not be back

11/24/2014

We chose this place to try something off the beaten path gastronomically because as we all know, British food doesn't have the best reputation. It's somewhere between eating a tire and really bad leftover dollar menu fare. But pub food is the way to go when you're traveling in the UK. So I wanted to introduce my little brother to the kind of stuff that you would NEVER see on the menu at 95% of the restaurants in Chicago. This establishment more than proved itself to be an outside of the beltway kind of joint!

The building has been so many things as the years have gone by, about as many face lifts as the theaters across the streets have had owners. The interior is definitely at throwback to the pubs out of the 19th century. Wainscoting, man. Wainscoting. With two floors and a bunch of small intimate tables you can get your food and converse without feeling flooded by noise coming from other tables.

A nice beer list full of local, domestic, and international choices helps you decide what to pair with your food. I had a Spanish cider with a definite full body and a strong olive-like after taste. And then Zombie Dust to finish off.

The food is amazing. Our beginning entrees were the Scotch egg, with great mustard; the liver and sweetbread skillet had a great little cornbread and gravy sauce. We also had another completely delectable, natural buttery mushroom flatbread pizza. So good! Probably the best of the bunch. Our main entree was the rack of lamb. Mmmmmmm.  Fatty grilled meat with a so so sauce and under paired with veggies. Tad disappointing.

Our server was completely friendly and uber nice the entire night. Even after we sat around and talked for so long gulping down beer and water to sober up for the crap weather. Thanks, Maggie!

Get here. Be ready for a bit of sticker shock, but so worth it! :D

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  Great ambience, awesome food, friendly service. What is there not to love, or at least on yelp -- to complain about? Zilch.

  Great ambience, awesome food, friendly service. What is there not to love, or at least on yelp -- to complain about? Zilch.
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  Very dim, very laid back experience on the top floor.

  Very dim, very laid back experience on the top floor.
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  My dining partner and our delightfully nice server, Minnie. She worked hard to get our vittles and drink out in perfect timing.

  My dining partner and our delightfully nice server, Minnie. She worked hard to get our vittles and drink out in perfect timing.
• See all photos from Arni F. for Owen & Engine

7/3/2015

My date loved the food. I hated it. Got grossed out by the fish skin in my fish and chips but guess I'm not one to like fish skin.  Couldn't stand the smell of it either. Waiter didn't even bother to check to see how the food was and when I asked him to take it away and why,  he didn't bother to offer to bring my anything else. $80 meal and I'm still starving. Very unhappy

3/31/2015

Great date spot.  Cozy, dark, cool vibe, chill music, street parking, good drinks.  

I had the shrimp and sausage grits.  It was definitely a winner.  The grits were well cooked and if i wasn't on a date I surely would have licked the bowl.   I heard that have great burgers and even have a special on Tuesday nights.  Will go back once the weather breaks to see whats in season.

2/13/2015 Updated review

There are many philosophical questions in life, some well-known, some less so.  As I drink my glass of garnacha tonight, three come to mind:

(1) What is the sound of one hand clapping?  
(2) If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?  
(3) Can a cheeseburger be too juicy?

At Owen & Engine, you'll only be confronted with one of those questions.  But you may be surprised at the answer you reach.  Not because O&E is in a forest, but because its burger is the fattiest of fatty burgers - with its high short rib and brisket content, it is oozing fat and juice.  Its almost too much, and it certainly has a unctuous, earthy flavor.  This is a powerful hunk of meat.  One may say that no burger should have this much power.

You may want this burger cooked a little longer than usual, to sweat out some of the fat and grease.  I recommend adding the cheddar, which adds a very necessary dimension to the flavor of the meat.  You may hit a wall, but if you do, the cocktails are large and strong and can heal your gastronomic catastrophe.

Definitely visit on a Tuesday, for a $16 burger, beer, and bourbon shot special.  On any other day, the burger alone usually costs almost that much!  Dine with someone who doesn't like bourbon, for the extra shot.

5/29/2015

My friend and I went here for brunch a few weeks ago and had pretty good experience overall. The service was very good, even when we stayed long after we were done eating.  We went there on the weekend expecting brunch but were slightly disappointed to find they were only serving a small lunch menu. My friend and I ended up splitting a French toast sandwich and pretzel and both were very good.

9/5/2014

Hits and misses:

Scotch Egg: Hit
Great Beer section: hit
French Fries: hit
Steak: TOTAL MISS (hint, the $25 filet is not filet minion...they also burned it when I asked them to cook it medium. Not over cooked, burned)
Burger: mediocre hit...(greasy and big...I've heard this described as the best burger in Chicago. It was just not my thing...too much with no lettuce tomato and onion. If you hate having veggies along with your burger, you will probably love this burger)
Pretzel appetizer: almost miss. the dipping sauce is fabulous (it's beer and cheddar cheese) but the pretzel was salted so  it made the whole thing too salty

Also, our server just was not good...at all. Inattentive and when he was there he made everyone at our table uncomfortable. The meal also took sooo long to be served.

If I go back it will be for drinks and nosh.

4/12/2015

Unbelievable!  Both food and service!!  The selection of beers and the amazing fresh ingredients for the dishes was so much more than we ever expected!  Don't let the neighborhood or outside of the building fool you. We are in Chicago for only 3 more days and will come back before we go home!!!!

5/15/2015

I've always had consistently great service and food here. Great beer list, prices are right and the burger is so damn perfect it doesn't even need cheese.

4/2/2015

Very disappointed at the food. We came in on a Wednesday night before catching a movie right across the street. We had the scotch egg and peanuts, they were okay.. I had better scotch egg at the Gage before..

For entries we got the duck breast, it came with 5 pieces of duck, and the sauce was very sweet. We also got the chicken roulade, which tasted pretty dry.. There were many things on the chicken plate, but the flavors just didn't go together.

For dessert, we got key lime custurd, it is seriously the worst dessert i ever had. They used the same source that was on the chicken plate..

I came in hoping this place will amaze me and we ended up with a bill over $100 (with drinks) and not satisfied.

7/14/2014

Let's start with the obvious: Owen & Engine has excellent  English food, including the fish and chips and the scotch egg.

Now the less obvious: really good, house-made charcuterie plate that even my Jewish mother enjoyed (we didn't tell her what she was eating; it will make for a good story one day).

And the slightly more obvious because of the press it has received: best burger in the city. Not sure it's that close either.

DEAL WITH THAT, BRENDAN SODIKOFF.

2/4/2015

I love burgers, and this place ranks as my #1 for best burger in Chicago (so far). They season the burger so well, it's cooked to perfection, and they don't use any toppings besides sauteed onions and maybe cheese/bacon (upgrades).

Tuesdays are their special, beer bourbon burger for $15 which is an absolute STEAL... so reserve ahead and come here on a Tuesday. This also comes with their fries, which are also delicious. You can't really lose out here, I'll be coming back for their burger for years to come.

7/21/2015

Went here late on a monday evening with my hood rat girlfriend not knowing what to expect. Small dimly lit place with lots of character. We were seated and greeted promptly by the most helpful and energetic server. Ended up getting scotch egg, bangers and mash, and the burger. All of it was delicious, but I wanna talk about the burger. Ive been to many of the popular  burger joints in the city, including Au cheval, Trencherman, etc. This burger takes the cake. It is not underwhelming! Its a massive hand pattied burger (a good inch in thickness) served on a delectable potato bun with caramelized onions and a side of malted vinegar mayo (i usually hate mayo, this shit was a nice addition).  You can opt to add a fried egg or aged cheddar. I added the cheddar and was not disappointed. It was refreshing to see a burger that was not  a perfectly shaped patty, apparently once frozen. the texture still had the crumbliness of ground beef indicating it was pattied fresh. It was cooked to order a perfect medium and incredibly juicy. Only critique I have, and i dont even know if its worth mentioning, was that the bottom bun became a little juiced logged  and it got a little messy. maybe the bottom bun could be a little thicker? who cares. Ill be back.

6/22/2014

I originally wanted to try the fish & chips, but the brunch menu looked enticing so my fiancé and I stopped by one Sunday morning right as it opened.  

The restaurant is located conveniently off the highway.  You can park in the movie theater's garage for $2, which is located across from the restaurant.  

We started with a mimosa for me and a Red Snapper (similar to a Bloody Mary) for my fiancé.  I enjoyed the mimosa, which is the quintessential brunch drink.  He enjoyed the spiciness of his drink.

They offer small plates, which I found very appealing especially if you don't have that big of an appetite in the morning.  We tried the scotch egg and the assortment of miniature scones.  The scotch egg was cooked to perfection with a crispy exterior coated in bread crumbs.  I loved the sausage wrapped around the egg and it all worked really well together.

The scones were so delicious!  In fact, I can't stop thinking about them and I've now developed this weird obsession for finding the best scones in the city.  They came with three scones - blueberry, chocolate chip and early grey.  They were served with clotted cream and house jam, which was some sort of strawberry/raspberry jam.  The clotted cream wasn't too sweet and paired well with the sweeter scones while the house jam paired well with the earl grey.  They had just the right texture - hard on the outside (but not rock hard like other poorly made scones I've consumed) and crumbly on the inside.  Get them.  Trust me - you won't regret it.

For our entrees, I tried the Eggs Benedict which was served on homemade crumpets (like English muffins, but less dense and more sponge-like), house rashers (thin slices of bacon), fried eggs and traditional hollandaise sauce.  It's served with a lot of sauce so I'd recommend ordering a side of brown bread so you can soak up all the sauce's creamy goodness.  The rashers were nice and crisp and the eggs were cooked to perfection.  Overall, an excellent savory brunch dish.

My fiancé tried the house salt beef hash.  The beef was served in cubed pieces and a generous portion was offered with the dish.  It also came with potatoes (perfectly cooked and crisp on the outside), onion and a crispy duck egg.

Our waitress was very attentive and she was constantly checking up on us to make sure were doing well and had whatever we needed.  She was also extremely polite and friendly.

The ambiance is sleek, modern and clean.  Also, the music was great and wasn't too loud or distracting either.

Overall, excellent brunch!  I definitely want to stop by for dinner so I can get my hands on the fish & chips.

8/30/2014

I went here on their Burger special night, which is Tuesday. You get a beer and a shot of bourbon with a Burger. What a deal! I have been told these burgers are good. I've been to Kuma's, which is also a highly raved about burger place. I love how O & E only had one burger to choose from. I got it, cooked med rare, and it was amazing. The beef was oh-so-delicious! It really was one of the bests!

For apps, we also had the scotch egg, pork rinds with Mole , and pretzel with cheese and mustard sauce. My favorite was the pretzel by far! The pork rinds were very good too, but also VERY HOT! Just a warning to those who only like a little bit of spice. The scotch egg was soft boiled and yummy, I had never tried one before and it was cool looking. There was an herb that stood out in it - possibly sage, but over all, the product was pretty good.

Our server was great and the manager was very nice as well. Can't wait to come back!

5/15/2015

Fabulous! We actually had a 9 PM reservation, but ended up in the area at 7:30PM. They fit us right in, no problem. Great beer selection & the food was exceptional! Will make this a regular stop on our trips!

5/19/2015

I spent a summer afternoon on the patio here drinking great beer and falling in love - what else is there to say?

1/2/2015

I love this place for so many reasons and I can't believe I haven't written a review before.  I always come for the the Tuesday burger special (see other reviews). The burger is phenomenal and DEFINITELY worth the $15!!   We came today, on a Friday night.  They quoted us 45 min.  As usual, we snuck up to the bar and swooped into open seats within 10 min.  We ordered the burger (you have to), the sepia bone marrow and the pasty (only bc my bf is British and he insists on eating British foods). The burger, as usual, is amazing. Definitely one of the top 2 burgers in Chicago- and if you take service into consideration, the best burger in Chicago.  I was a bit drunk when I ordered and forgot to add cheese and a fried egg- these are essential FYI.  Upon receiving my burger I looked at my bf and said the F word very discreetly.  Another employee who wasn't serving us noticed my distress and immediately knew that I wasn't satisfied with my cheese less burger.  He offered to add cheese- which I accepted, and asked for a fried egg... Because that's how I roll.  

The pasty was good- per the Brit.

Now the sepia bone marrow... I have to admit that I wasn't impressed.  And it wasn't because the dish wasn't good- it was!  I was just expecting the bone marrow to be more like a schmear (sp?).  We came here maybe 2 months ago and had the most amazing bone marrow spread upon bread.  Think better than purple pig or Au Cheval.  Today, that dish no longer exists... But when it does make a come back to the menu, order it. You won't be disappointed.  

At 10:22 we and the rest of the patrons at the bar got a free round of whiskey at the bar- the reason I can't recall but I don't question free alcohol.

Overall, I love this place and I will be sad to leave Chicago in 4 weeks.

2/15/2015

Loved the atmosphere. Felt like I was in some european city. I do have to say - I was a bit skeptical before coming to this place - but I was quite satisfied when I left. I had a little difficulty trying to decide what I wanted to order, but alas I let go of my bias and just ordered the things that jumped out at me. I ordered the soft boiled egg and the paneer and fried chickpeas. The food was great!

This place is right across the street from the movies - so if you are trying to plan a date - this is the perfect place to go for a bite to eat and a couple of drinks while waiting for your movie time! I hear that there is some sort of a deal on tuesdays both at the restaurant and at the theater!

6/5/2014

We came this past weekend for a quick meal after watching Godzilla across the street.

We ordered scallop special (tasty, but are you supposed to slice already small scallops?), elk (tough and gamey which we expected and the fried item was good! Not exactly sure what it was though. Not impressed with the dish), fish and chips (clear standout, entire dish was good, great with the clam sauce), clams with chorizo (another good dish with good strong flavor), bone marrow (disappointing, amount of uni was negligible, better at other places).

I don't know how to describe service. He was very helpful because we had to be out by a certain time so he pushed the kitchen. But at the same time, we couldn't decide between a couple of things and his insight didn't really bring anything new to the table. Also, we got charged for a different table. Granted, we were in a hurry so that didn't help and he fixed it after I pointed out the mistake. But we were 1 of 3 tables on the floor. The meal was a little expensive for the amount of food we got, but our items weren't cheap.

Overall, I would just stick to what they're known for like fish and chips and come back on a slow day with plenty of time to prevent any mishaps.

11/11/2014

The burger really is all that. The meat is high quality and essentially tastes like ground steak on a bun. Added cheddar cheese with the grilled onions.

Fries were near perfect, but I didn't dig the aioli or the house made roasted red pepper ketchup.

Started with the house made breads, a nice variety of four, which was served with herbed butter and a delicious, savory bean dip that had strong Indian spices.

Cousin enjoyed her fish and chips, which I had at my last visit. Perfectly cooked, not too greasy.

Great service, large selection of beverages.

5/23/2015

Stopped in during a walk around the neighborhood on a sunny Saturday afternoon for a beer and a snack!  They have a great selection of both drafts and bottles.  Their staff was very friendly and engaging and had great recommendations!  The scotch egg came highly recommended and did not disappoint!  The bartender filled us in on some specials throughout the week and we will definitely be back!

2/17/2015

Amazing experience Sunday night. We had a party of 9 and so we got to try many things on the menu. Everything was great.

The service was impeccable as well. Not just that they were always on top of everything, but so much more knowledgable about their menu and food than most places. Great recommendations all around.

Highly recommend this place.

5/6/2014

Tuesday nights at Owen and Engine are Bourbon, Beer, and Burger night:  for a mere $15 you get a bourbon (quality one, too, not crap), beer (last time it was a Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, so again, quality, not crap), and a burger.

Let me state this is the best non-kitsch burger I have ever had.

We all know what a kitsch burger is - we've been to Lockdown and Kuma's.  No, Owen and Engine is not a kitsch burger place but just a damn good burger with great cheese and bacon should you want said bacon.  No crazy meats, no crazy sauces ... just a damn fine burger.

I would be shocked if there was a better burger deal anywhere in the city.

124/365

5/20/2015

Love everything about the place. Small and unassuming. Excellent service not at all pretentious. THE FOOD WAS BREATHTAKING.

12/1/2014

Food is an experience here. Or maybe what I mean is that they have the best, juiciest, expletivist hamburger my silly American tastebuds have ever landed on. I probably mean both.

When you're coming down from the sick-feeling high of any overproduced Hollywood output across the street at the Western Avenue Regal Cinema, return to our dark earth slowly. Enter a dim and relatively low-ceilinged Brit bar called Owen & Engine (laughingly, if you know the trivia that it's owned by the neighboring Fat Willy BBQ folks!) Be greeted by expansive smiles. Be seated at narrow tables. Determine your draft over close candlelight.

Perhaps I over-romanticize this place because my husband tends to insist we shall not enter without Reservation. And yet have! Each time is a minor miracle, which I immediately diminish by ordering the 'burger. Find this low class? Order the juicy, oniony, prime-cheddary, bun-mazingly burger and then we'll talk. Maybe.

12/11/2014

Came around 9pm on a Saturday night with my boyfriend.  There was no wait, and we got to sit upstairs.  The upstairs had a nice atmosphere.  There was an energetic group of people celebrating a birthday party, but the area upstairs was relatively calm.  This was my first time here, and my waiter informed my boyfriend and I that their specialties were their burgers and fish and chips.  Their burger sounded amazing, but I had a burger for lunch.  The waiter said that the fish used for the fish and chips is delivered fresh everyday.  Fish and chips sounded great as well, but I wasn't in the mood for anything fried.   I opted for the seafood and grits.  The grits were creamy and also had a kick to them.  There was also a tomato based sauce used.  This dish was not what I expected, but in a good way.  People on Yelp have left so many good reviews about the burger though, so I'll have to come back and try it next time.

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  Seafood and grits

  Seafood and grits

4/5/2015

Fantastic food. Their hamburger is delicious and their (Amish farm) chicken....omg. Definitely going back.